Pauline Belford is an experienced educator who has spent nearly two decades teaching in post-16 education at both Further Education and Higher Education institutions. She was involved in the development of the first Scottish Higher National Diploma in Computer Games Development – a national qualification delivered across Scotland’s Further Education Colleges. She is also an active researcher in the fields of computer ethics and accessibility in games, and has co-authored several papers on topics such as game design, game ethics, and sexism in gaming. She is currently working part-time as a freelance educational consultant and accessibility researcher, whilst co-authoring a book on computer ethics, and learning Swedish. In our conversation, we talk about morality in games, board game accessibility, and parkrun. Show Notes (link) [00:40] What drew Pauline to game design, computer ethics, and accessibility[01:06] Pauline's background and exposure to computers[01:42] From biology and sociology to computer science[02:49] Developing the HNC and HND Computer Games Development qualification[04:14] Where that qualification can lead[04:40] Setting up teams and incubators during the program[06:38] Pauline's interest in computer ethics[07:21] Teaching ethics through the case study "Scandal in Academia"[08:47] Student reception to learning ethics in computing[09:35] The lessons behind the lesson[10:38] Also, PhDs: Beware of what you're getting into[11:18] The potential for exploitation in academia[13:25] On independent research and publishing[14:24] Teaching ethics to both computing students and police officers[15:13] How to assess an ethics unit[16:25] Morality in games[17:40] Morality systems in the "Fallout" (VG) series[19:14] The "Magic Circle” concept[20:29] Empathy as a mechanic in "Life is Strange" (VG)[22:02] The politics of story crafting in games[22:24] The analogy to slavery in "Detroit: Become Human" (VG)[22:56] Ethics and morality as a mechanic in games[23:40] "Papers, Please" (VG)[26:47] How they found a niche in board game accessibility[27:35] Social benefits of board games[29:01] Board game community feedback to their accessibility work[30:50] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?[31:19] parkrun[33:52] Starting her own local chapter[36:22] The Swedish parkrun community[38:07] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?[39:49] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?[39:56] On knowing your worth[40:39] On applying for jobs[41:19] On networking[41:36] Mark Granovetter’s "The Strength of Weak Ties"[41:57] On maintaining connections[43:49] On impostor syndrome[44:52] On "fake it 'til you make it"[45:28] On shaping your work[47:56] Anders Ericsson's "Deliberate Practice"[49:39] Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's "Flow"   Connect with STEAM Powered: WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonKo-Fi   Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

Pauline Belford is an experienced educator who has spent nearly two decades teaching in post-16 education at both Further Education and Higher Education institutions. She was involved in the development of the first Scottish Higher National Diploma in Computer Games Development – a national qualification delivered across Scotland’s Further Education Colleges. She is also an active researcher in the fields of computer ethics and accessibility in games, and has co-authored several papers on topics such as game design, game ethics, and sexism in gaming. She is currently working part-time as a freelance educational consultant and accessibility researcher, whilst co-authoring a book on computer ethics, and learning Swedish.

In our conversation, we talk about morality in games, board game accessibility, and parkrun.

Show Notes (link)

[00:40] What drew Pauline to game design, computer ethics, and accessibility [01:06] Pauline's background and exposure to computers [01:42] From biology and sociology to computer science [02:49] Developing the HNC and HND Computer Games Development qualification [04:14] Where that qualification can lead [04:40] Setting up teams and incubators during the program [06:38] Pauline's interest in computer ethics [07:21] Teaching ethics through the case study "Scandal in Academia" [08:47] Student reception to learning ethics in computing [09:35] The lessons behind the lesson [10:38] Also, PhDs: Beware of what you're getting into [11:18] The potential for exploitation in academia [13:25] On independent research and publishing [14:24] Teaching ethics to both computing students and police officers [15:13] How to assess an ethics unit [16:25] Morality in games [17:40] Morality systems in the "Fallout" (VG) series [19:14] The "Magic Circle” concept [20:29] Empathy as a mechanic in "Life is Strange" (VG) [22:02] The politics of story crafting in games [22:24] The analogy to slavery in "Detroit: Become Human" (VG) [22:56] Ethics and morality as a mechanic in games [23:40] "Papers, Please" (VG) [26:47] How they found a niche in board game accessibility [27:35] Social benefits of board games [29:01] Board game community feedback to their accessibility work [30:50] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [31:19] parkrun [33:52] Starting her own local chapter [36:22] The Swedish parkrun community [38:07] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [39:49] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [39:56] On knowing your worth [40:39] On applying for jobs [41:19] On networking [41:36] Mark Granovetter’s "The Strength of Weak Ties" [41:57] On maintaining connections [43:49] On impostor syndrome [44:52] On "fake it 'til you make it" [45:28] On shaping your work [47:56] Anders Ericsson's "Deliberate Practice" [49:39] Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's "Flow"

 

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Music is Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935 by Brett Van Donsel.

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